Mu Qing let out a loud sneeze, and the red silk curtains were immediately lifted, allowing warm sunlight to gently pour in.

  "Third Young Mistress," Ying Fen personally brought in a small lacquer tray, the light from behind casting a golden glow on her, momentarily dazzling Shen Muqing, "Have another bowl of ginger soup!"

  "What time is it now?"

  The voice is a little hoarse and the throat feels a bit sore - this is a precursor to catching a cold.

  "It's already early morning," Ying Fen replied, sitting down beside the bed, "you've slept for almost four hours."

  She picked up the spoon and fed Jiang Tang a sip of ginger soup.

  Shen Mu Qing shook her head and took the bowl from her: "I seem to have a bit of a cold." As she said that, she drank it all in one gulp, "Ginger soup has to be drunk like this to be effective."

  Ying picked up the empty bowl that Shen Qing had finished drinking from and let out a soft sigh.

  "You go and help me stew a bowl of ginger soup." Shen Muqing felt much better, "If the doctor comes later, you remember to tell him that I've had ginger soup."

  Ying nodded slightly and placed the pillow behind Shen Muqing's back: "Third Young Mistress, do you want to tell Old Madame about it - she is still in the next room with Second Young Miss."

  Shen Mu Qing leaned against the headboard and smiled: "Wait a moment. You first tell me how Yu Hui is doing?"

  "Fortunately, she grabbed the ship's rope at that time. She was just choked by two mouthfuls of water."

  Shen Mu Qing slightly nodded and asked Feng Wanqing: "How is Fifth Young Lady?"

  Ying furrowed her brow: "She's been unconscious all along. The young mistress has been taking care of her in the new bamboo courtyard."

  What's wrong with Wang Wen?

  Shen Mu Qing was taken aback for a moment.

  Yingfen said: "When she was rescued, she had already exhaled more than inhaled... A woman went to inform the second wife, and the second wife rushed over. She ordered people to carry her back to the Xinzhuang courtyard first, then went to inform the old lady..."

  "Where is Third Master?" Shen Muqing pondered, "Is he in Xin Zhu Yard or Cong Lv Hall."

  Ying hesitated for a moment and said softly: "Third Master is kneeling in the courtyard!"

  Shen Mu Qing was shocked: "Kneeling in the courtyard?"

  Ying nodded: "It was Tai Fu who made her kneel. She also said that as long as she didn't think it through clearly, she wouldn't get up."

  "Did Madam say anything else?" Shen Muqing asked softly.

  Ying Fen said with a hint of schadenfreude: "The old lady also said that tomorrow, she'll send Fifth Miss back home. She also said that she's not getting any younger and it's time to marry her off, so she wants the mistress to send Fifth Miss back home and let the people from the Feng family teach her a lesson, lest she tarnish the reputation of the Feng manor."

  "What did the lady say?" Shen Mu asked calmly and quietly.

  Ying Feng looked at Shen Muqing in surprise: "How did Third Young Mistress know that the lady had spoken up for Fifth Young Miss?"

  Shen Mu Qing gazed at her with a smile, but his eyes were tinged with melancholy.

  Ying Feng saw him, and her mood also fell, saying: "At that time, the lady cried. She said that the six generations of the Feng family had no men who broke the law, and three generations had no women who remarried. She also said that she asked the third young master why he only saved the fifth girl?" When she said this, she raised her eyes to secretly observe Shen Muqing's expression.

  "Say it if you want to say it!" Shen Muqing's attitude remained calm, "Otherwise, what do I have to fight with others for?"

  The spirit of Ying Fen immediately inspired many people.

  "The Third Master said that at the time he didn't think so much and since Fifth Miss was closer, he saved her first!"

  Shen Mu's mouth slightly curved upwards, revealing a self-mocking smile.

  "Third Young Mistress..." Ying Fan gazed at Shen Muqing's smile and slowly said: "Then, then what should we do?"

  "What should I do?" Shen Muqing smiled and snuggled into the quilt, "Of course, go tell Madame Tai that I'm awake!"

  "Isn't Kenno still asleep?" Ying Fenchi said.

  "Really!" Shen Mu Qing's eyes sparkled as she stared at Ying Fen, "She didn't wake up, but I did!"

  He was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly understood and happily hurried away.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and shook his head, rubbing his eyes vigorously.

  Madam Tai and Madame Feng arrived with a group of people.

  "Grandma, it's all because of the daughter-in-law!"

  Old Lady Shen hastily stepped forward and pressed Qing down onto the bed: "Good child, what business do you have with him? Hurry up and lie down, hurry up and lie down. You fell into the water and caught a chill, so be sure to cover yourself well."

  Shen Mu's eyes were clear and tears fell as she pulled the hand of her mother-in-law, saying: "Grandmother, it was all my fault. Please don't blame your son!"

  Madam was taken aback, but Feng, who was following behind Madam, had already shown a relieved expression.

  "He's about to take the imperial examination soon, and if he catches a cold from this night wind, his wife will be held responsible even if she dies!"

  Old Lady Tai heard this and her eyes flickered as she said to the people beside her: "All of you withdraw! I have a few words to say to Third Madame."

  The attendants in the house all knelt down and retreated.

  Feng hesitated for a moment and saw that Lady Wang didn't even glance at her as she followed Old Madame out.

  The house was empty, and the old lady's face showed a loving expression. She said softly, "Mu Qing, tell Grandma the truth. Was it Feng Wu who pushed you into the lake?"

  Shen Muqing's expression was stunned and he asked inexplicably: "How could it be said that Fifth Sister pushed me into the lake?"

  Madam Ta's eyes gleamed as she scrutinized Shen Muqing's expression.

  Shen Muqing looked puzzled, recalling: "At the time, Wu Meimei was trying to save me, my hand slipped and I fell into the lake. How could it be said that Wu Meimei pushed me?"

  The lady nodded slightly and smiled: "It was Yu Hui, that careless one. She came to see you and said it was the fifth daughter of the Feng family who pushed you down. I asked her why Miss Feng would push you."

  She said, Miss Feng said she was like a rose and you were like a peony. But then you said Miss Feng wasn't a rose, but an orchid, and for some reason Miss Feng got unhappy... so that's why they pushed you later?

  Shen Mu Qing was tongue-tied and couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

  Old Lady Liang smiled slightly after reading it, and comfortingly patted her hand: "Don't worry, I have this under control. Once she's better, we'll send her away. You just focus on being the third young mistress of the Liang family."

  Shen Mu Qing's eyes were slightly red at the corners, and she lowered her eyelids to respond softly with a "yes".

  "Alright, alright!" Taifu raised his voice, with a tone of relief, "Don't think about anything else, just rest well. After a few days when Ji Min's imperial examination is over, we'll go to the temple together to burn incense and have vegetarian food, how does that sound?"

  Shen Muqing's face revealed a weak expression, and he nodded slightly, saying in a low voice: "T-then, husband..."

  The old lady didn't say a word, but just smiled warmly at Hao.

  Her face turned red, and she lowered her head, fiddling with the corner of the quilt: "Grandma, he...he still wants to take the Imperial Examination..."

  The old lady smiled and patted her hand: "Don't worry, I'll let him get up now - tell him to go to Conglutang to study."

  Shen Mu Qingwu raised her head and smiled brightly at Tai Furen: "Thank you, Grandmother!" Her voice was filled with boundless joy.

  The old lady's eyes flashed with satisfaction, nodded and smiled as she walked out.

  ******

  Shen Muqing put on her clothes and went to see Liang Youhui. She casually glanced into the courtyard.

  The courtyard is empty and desolate, with only the dappled shade left by the towering trees.

  Shen Mu Qing stepped quickly eastward and walked away after a short while.

  Liang Youhui was arguing about going to see Shen Muqing.

  She saw Shen Muqing enter and excitedly shouted "Third Aunt".

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and walked over to her bedside, gently sat down and stroked her hair: "Are you okay?"

  Liang Youhui shook her head and said with a puzzled expression, "Third sister, it's so strange! I remember when I fell into the water, something suddenly pushed my butt..."

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and scolded, "Nonsense. If grandmother and mother heard such indecent words from you, wouldn't they say it again?"

  Liáng Yòu Huì muttered under her breath: "Didn't I just tell Third Sister?"

  "So this can't be said to others, got it?"

  Liang Youhui nodded and then let out a long sigh, revealing an unprecedented sadness in her expression.

  "What's wrong?" Shen Muqing asked her cautiously.

  Liang Youhui let out a long sigh again, before speaking in a somewhat embarrassed tone: "I thought Third Brother... who knew, he still likes Fifth Sister the most... it's always been like this... when we're together, whatever good things there are, they all go to Fifth Sister... and yet, she's just a guest, but I have to give way to her... whereas you're my sister-in-law, but you yield to me in everything..."

  "Alright, alright." Shen Muqing smiled and interrupted her "You really fear that the world is not chaotic enough."

  Liang Youhui listened and looked at Shen Muqing with a puzzled expression.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and said, "At that time, the situation was chaotic, Gong Li and Wu Mei were close by, of course I had to save her first... If your third brother heard you say this, who knows how heartbroken he would be?"

  Liáng Yòu Huì's eyes suddenly dimmed, and her gaze stared straight at Shěn Mù Qīng.

  "What's wrong?"

  Liang Youhui wanted to say something but stopped herself and shook her head, pulling Shen Muqing's hand and saying: "Third sister, I will be good to you for the rest of my life!"

  Shen Muqing immediately felt her eyes moistening.

  She turned her face away and said softly: "I wish I could be sisters with you for a lifetime!"

  Her voice had a hint of humming.

  Liáng Yǒu Huì threw herself into her arms like a child: "Third Aunt, no matter what, you are my good aunt."

  ******

  As I came out of Liang Youhui's room, I ran into a little maid who had come to report something.

  "Third Young Mistress, Second Young Mistress has arrived!"

  Shen Muqing was somewhat surprised.

  Wang Wen's virtuous and kind elder sister-in-law didn't come, but Jiang Shuangrui, this useless second sister-in-law, actually came!

  "Please come in quickly!"

  Mingxia personally went to draw the curtain, and Yanhong supported Jiang Shuangrui as they walked in.

  "Look at you, acting as if nothing's wrong?" Jiang Shuangrui smiled and looked Shen Muchun up and down, "Spring water is not the same as summer water, be careful not to catch a cold!"

  "Who would have thought we'd meet like this?" Shen Muqing smiled and gave Jiang Shuangrui a courtesy, then walked forward to support Jiang Shuangrui to the large kang by the window in the west wing.

  Jiang Shuangrui sat down, Shen Muqing had someone serve tea and smiled: "I heard that Wu Biao Mei hasn't woken up yet. I was just thinking of going to see her. If Er Sao came a step later, I would have gone to Xin Xiu Yuan already!"

  Finally, Shen Muqing has given up...^_^... I can also breathe a sigh of relief... However, due to the heavy snow, my home lost power, and I'm writing this at work with limited time, so I only wrote this much... sweat... Tomorrow I'll definitely make it up, please forgive me! If the power comes back on when I get home, I'll continue writing and update in a timely manner, please believe in XiXi's promise. (If you want to know what happens next, please log in to m, more chapters available, support the author, support the official version!)

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